-48-
Rest of the summer went well. I did visit my aunt and her husband on the last week of the vacation. They loved their time in Italy and were over all really happy. Seeing them made me happy and glad, but coming back to the castle once again made me feel like I can breath again. Hard to explain, but that seems to happen anytime I leave Hogwarts and come back. I needed to remove all my belongings from Greenhouse's chamber into a new chamber that is close to the History of Magic classroom, so Professor Sprout can get her stuff in there. The new chamber looks almost identical, except there aren't any vines going over the ceiling. Sniffy was little bit confused at first, but soon settled in well. Guess giving him some food and shiny things made him feel home again and forget that we moved into new room. Funny little rascal.
The night before all of the students and rest of the professors are going to come back to the school, I lay in bed and snuggle up with the niffler. Sniffy's short fur tickles side of my cheek as he tunnels the crook of my neck. Can't wait this semester to start! Seeing all the old and new faces, new classroom that I can decor the way I like, just everything about tomorrow makes me feel excited. And most of all I'm going to see him again. Severus. It's been over a month last time I saw him. Tomorrow, I get to see him again. Goofy smile creeps up on my face just thinking about it, followed by a blush. Why I feel like a little school girl just thinking about him?! There is something badly wrong with me. But I can't help it. Just thinking about him and everything we have gone thru makes my heart flutter. But there is still part of me that is scared. Scared of the rejection. So I better play it cool and see what happens.
The day has come. I have felt giddy all morning. The students are going to be here in the evening, so I have time to put last finishing touches around the History of Magic classroom. Feels like I'm getting rid of everything that even remotely reminds me of Lockhart. Even there isn't much I can do regarding the desks placements and such, I can still reorganize all the books and add my own personal decors around the classroom here and there. While putting things neatly on my desk, I hear how someone steps into the room. "Good to see you again, (Y/N)." familiar voice says. My head snaps to glance over my shoulder:"Professor Dumbledore!". "Making the classroom more like yourself, I see." Headmaster hums pleased while looking around where he's standing.
"Yes. Thought it would make me feel more confident when the classes starts tomorrow." I nod with shy smile. He then looks at me:"Hope you don't feel odd being here after everything that happened.". "To be quite honest, I don't. At first I thought I would feel uneasy, but it does make me feel like I got the change to clear the air. If that makes any sense." I let out a small awkward chuckle at the end. Dumbledore nods and walks towards me:"Yes. I suppose it does.". After that, we start talking how our summer went. We keep the conversation light and cheerful from the start to finish. Of course, I didn't tell him anything that happened at the festival or such. When we had nothing else to say, Dumbledore continued his way. Probably went up to next classroom to see other professors and ask how their vacation went.
As the evening started to come closer, I went to my chamber to change my clothes and do my hair. Need to look good to make great first impression for the new faces! When the evening finally arrives, it starts raining quite hard and some thunder can be heard somewhere in the distance. Minerva and I are at the entry of the Great Hall to greet the students and guide them if needed. Most of the students greet us with smiles on their faces as they walk past by us. "Minerva, I need to ask you something." I lean little bit towards her as she's standing right beside me. "Yes, dear?" she keeps her gaze towards the direction where all of the students are coming from. "Do you know who's our new D.A.D.A. teacher?" I ask.
Minerva gives a tiny wave at one of the students who spot her further away:"Didn't Dumbledore told you?". I raise an eyebrow at her:"Well, I wouldn't be asking if he had told me, now would I?". "Alastor Moody." she tells. "Hmm... Why does that sound familiar?" I wonder out loud. "Hard to say, but he used to be an Auror. Quite famous too." Minerva gives me a knowing smile, since I have told her how much I idolize Aurors in the past. My eyes starts to sparkle and my head snaps right at her:"Really?!". "Perhaps he could tell you more about his adventures and life as an Auror in general." she encourages. Can't wait! Just then, Minerva spots how there are some students that are already up to no good further away. "Oh..-! No, no, that'll not do." she quickly leaves by my side to intervene. Watching her go just makes me laugh a little.
Flash of a lightning peeks out from the windows near us. Seems that the storm is coming closer and closer to the castle. "Professor (Y/L)!" familiar voice calls and I turn around. My eyes widens out of surprise:"Neville!". The boy has grown over the summer what feels like at least ten centimeters. "Good to see you again." he smiles while looking down on me. "What happened to you?" I playfully point out. Then we have friendly chat about our summer while there are still some students walking inside the Great Hall. What can I tell from our small interaction is that his summer went well, but wasn't able to see Luna since they live pretty far away from each other, so they kept send owls to each other all of these past months. Love it how awkward he gets whenever we talk about him and her, but I'm glad he feels comfortable to share something like this with me.
After Neville walks in the Great Hall, I see how Harry Potter and his friends walks past me. I could have sworn they were talking about something about Dementors. Sounding like they saw some on their way here on the train. Maybe I'm just imagining things. They are deep in their own conversation, when all of sudden Draco Malfoy bumps into them on purpose as he walks right past them. He looks so proud of himself while doing so. "Hey..!" I'm about to go after the student to tell him to behave, but I froze when familiar deep voice calls behind me:"I see you are already ready to cause a scene on very first day.". Quickly I turn around:"Huh?". It's Severus, standing so close to me. My heart basically jumps when I realize it's him:"Sev..- Professor Snape.". "Evening, Professor (Y/L)." he answer with the monotonic tone, keeping his head high as usual. Clearing my throat a bit and give a polite nod:"...Evening.".
When the last students gets inside the Great Hall, both of us share this very small and quick tight lip smile. Happy to see him doing well. The Great Hall gets filled with loud yet light chatter as the students get in their seats. Severus and I make sure everyone got inside and leave Minerva other side of the doors to greet the new first years. As we are walking towards the High Table where the rest of the professors are, I glance up to him. There was something different about him, but couldn't point it out right away. Hmm... Then it hit me. It's his hair! It's not as greasy anymore and it's little bit more longer. More feathery like - if you will. "You have grown your hair." I smile. "What a clever observation, (Y/L). Can't wait what else you will find over the semester before us." he says sarcastically without taking his eyes off what's ahead of us. That makes me chuckle:"Oh, c'mon. Admit that you would miss me if I wouldn't be here.". "More or less." he answer for my surprise. Immediately light blush raises up on my cheeks. This man...
When we get to the High Table, we greet all of the professors and shake our hands. Professor Sprout immediately came up to me and started to bubble how wonderful it is to finally meet and how great it was I taught the students last semester. She oozes Hufflepuffness it's almost palpable. Slowly everyone is getting to their places and I look around. Trying to spot our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, but... He isn't anywhere to be found. That's odd. As the loud chatter calms down, the sound of the storm outside becomes louder. Severus and I go sit down to our own seats like last year. Professor Sprout went sit down where Umbridge used to sit, so now the seat on my right side - where Lockhart used to sit, is empty. The Headmaster starts his usual speech to the students before they let the first years in here. I start to feel all giddy all over again, like this would be my first day in here. Without my notice, the man next to me sees the look on my face and starts to smile corner of his mouth a bit.
All of sudden, a flash of bright lightning appears, followed by a loud sound of a storm. We all jump a little out of surprise. It sounds like there is a thunder right above us. But it won't stop there. It all happens so fast; The magical ceiling of the Great Hall gets hit by the lightning which makes all of the students scream and they all put their heads down. Automatically, I cover my ears and lean more towards the Potions Master. Immediately I feel how Severus puts his arms around me to protect. He's basically now hugging me tight, shielding me from the possible lighting struck. Right after that, someone behind us uses magic to fix the ceiling back to normal and the storm is gone. Huh?!
Everyone in the Great Hall raise their heads back up to look around what just happened. Severus gently releases me from his arms, palm of his hand brushes behind my head in a caring way while doing so. It happened so quick, but I did manage to notice it. My heart is beating faster. Don't know if it's because of the sudden scare or that he protected me like that, but I try to play it cool. "What happened?" I look around like everyone else in the room. Then, I glance over my shoulder to see there is an older man standing right at the door where us professors usually walk thru from. Looks like he has just arrived since all of his clothes are dripping wet. Who is he? Soon everyone else notices the man as well and the Great Hall once again gets filled with whispers. The man limps deeper into the room while using a big walking stick made out of wood. Dumbledore smiles as he approaches the man, then they shake hands:"Alastor. My dear old friend. Thank you for coming.". That's Alastor Moody?!